Last night we held our annual potluck dinner/monthly meeting at critique member Laya Steinberg's house. Usually we meet once a month at the Newton library to go over our manuscripts. But for the last five years we've kicked off our September meeting with a dinner at someone's house. In the kit lit world it's not unusual to find writers joining together in monthly critique groups. But what I think makes our group unusual is the level of commitment. For the last 10 years, once a month, we've been meeting to give each other honest, often difficult, feedback on our WIPs. Members have come and gone (Mitali Perkins, you will always be a member!), and several of us -- John Bell, Ed Loechler and I -- have been there since the beginning. We don't dwell on our families, our other hobbies, our lives outside of our writing. We work. And we know each other very well through our work. Last night was an exception when we were entertained with wonderful harmony and guitar by three of our members (Mordena Babich, Laya and Ed). Thanks, all!
Invite me to speak to your girls!
In July I had the good fortune to visit Westwinds Bookshop in Duxbury, MA., where members of a mom-daughter group attended my signing. I didn't give my usual book-group talk because there were other girls there who hadn't read the book and I didn't want to spoil it for them. But we were still able to talk about the book and writing in general. Something magical often happens with these mom-daughter groups. Maybe it's that the girls and moms often "see" different things in the books, and it's fun to talk about this. Or that the girls are excited to meet a real author. Or that our talk is part academic (for example, what themes did you find in the text?) and part fun. Whatever it is, I love it.
So, here's the deal. If you live in the Boston area and are hosting a book group and want to read one of my books, I will come to the meeting and facilitate a talk about it. Just shoot me an e-mail!
Franki Sibberson's blog
So, so thrilled to read this wonderful review on Franki Sibberson's blog this morning. Thanks, Franki! http://readingyear.blogspot.com/
It wasn’t until I figured out how to revise that I got my first writing contract. The revision process is an exciting experience – it’s where I see what’s possible, what might be. I typically spend four to five years (from the very beginning to the very end) writing a novel and MOST of that time is spent on revision. Over the last couple of years I’ve developed some revision strategies that have helped bring me back from the abyss—multiple times. Thank goodness! So last year when Kate Messner reached out to middle grade authors – asking for help with her revision book for kids – I jumped at the chance to talk about this. Published by Stenhouse Publishers, Real Revision, Authors’ Strategies to Share with Student Writers, is a wonderful look at revision. She has geared it toward teachers working with kids. But I think it’s a worthwhile book on revision for any writer, both published and unpublished.
Kate separates the book into chapters, including ones on detail, cutting, research, making characters more “real;” she relies on her own writing experience as well as those of the 40 authors who contributed to the book. I found myself saying, “oh, good idea,” when I read about an exercise Kate does in her classroom (requiring students to write a second opening paragraph for their essays).
I also really liked the “Try it” pages. Kate has taken revision suggestions from various authors, then made up an exercise page directed at kids. For example, Linda Urban has a great step-by-step process for peer editing. Jeannine Atkins offers a “Try it” page where students can work on improving language.
Again, these suggestions are geared toward teachers and students but I couldn’t help but think how even the most “advanced” author could benefit from these exercises.
At the spring NE-SCBWI conference I led a workshop on revision (I’ll be repeating this at the Encore 2011 in October). One of the main points in my talk was that writers must develop their own internal editor and come up with their own revision “rules” or guidelines. But how does a young writer do this?
By learning what other writers do!
Kate Messner has just made that search a whole lot easier. Check it out!
http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9446&r=
Visit me in Duxbury!
I will be signing books at the Westwinds Bookshop in Duxbury, MA, this coming Wednesday, July 20, at 4 pm. This is a wonderful bookstore that has been really working at supporting local authors. I'm so honored to be included in their summer line up. Look who else will be there: David Kelly, July 21, 3pm
Jennifer Haigh, Aug. 3, 7pm, Duxbury Free Library
Jackie Davies, Aug. 6, 1pm
Ann Hood, Aug. 31, 7pm, Duxbury Free Library
See you there! Here's a link to my event: http://www.westwindsbookshop.com/EventFlyers/Day.htm